Gasparilla Music Fest is back for 2026, and it's better than ever! From April 10-12, you jam out with some of the greatest musicians at an all-new venue this year—Meridian Fields!
This music festival usually caps off Gasparilla season in Tampa Bay. And if you're looking for a list of updated happenings and things to do in the Bay area – Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater—look no further than our constantly updated Things to Do post!
<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>2026 Gasparilla Music Festival Guide
What is Gasparilla Music Festival?
The annual music fest is put on by the Gasparilla Music Foundation, a Florida 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation that supports music education through its Recycled Tunes program.
The mission of Recycled Tunes is to enrich the lives of underserved and impoverished children in Tampa Bay by ensuring access to musical instruments. They also give students performance opportunities on the festival stages in front of large crowds.
GMF kicked off in 2012 in Downtown Tampa and has been bringing great genres of music together! The 2025 festival was canceled, but now it's back and better than ever with a new home on Water Street, debuting at Meridian Fields!
Gasparilla Music Festival Lineup 2026
Get ready for a weekend full of great live music! Here are this year's Gasparilla Music Fest headliners. Check out the lineup for the entire weekend here.
This year's festival features different stages: the Sparkman Stage, Meridian Stage, Silo Stage, and Greenway Stage.
- Friday: Mt. Joy performing on the Meridian Stage at 9:15 p.m. Formed in 2016, you may know their most popular song titled “Silver Lining.”
- Saturday: Two Friends performing on the Meridian Stage at 9 p.m. This DJ duo is known for songs like “Way It Was” with Quinn XCII and “If Only I” with Loud Luxury and Bebe Rexha
- Sunday: Gov't Mule performing on the Meridian Stage at 8:15 p.m. With roots in rock, blues, soul, and jazz, you may know some of their songs like “Soulshine,” Banks Of The Deep End,” and “Beautifully Broken.”
For some chill fun! There will be a silent disco on Friday and Saturday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m.!
Gasparilla Music Festival Map
Plan your day and your routes accordingly to make sure you don't miss any of the action!
Gasparilla Music Festival Food Vendors and Craft Vendors
Not only does Gasparilla Music Fest have great vibes, but they've got a great lineup of vendors, too! Stop for some delicious bites at the food vendors and then check out a great selection of craft vendors.
Food Vendors
- Big Ray's Fish Camp: Grouper Sandwich
- Big Red BBQ: Smokin' Pork and Brisket Bowlz
- Cafe Hey: Cuban Sandwiches and Vegan Truffle Mac & Cheese
- Coppertail Brewing Co.: Double Smash Burger
- Callito Taquería: Kick Ass Vegetarian (or not) Nachos
- Han: Hand Roll & Ramen Bar
- Inside the Box: Ultimate Waffle Fries
- Lolis Mexican Cravings: Tacos
- Stoked Pizza: Wood Fired Pizza
- Stuft Gourmet Empanadas: Empanadas
- Calusa Oyster: Oysters
- Kona Ice: Shave ice & Novelty Ice Cream
- Lara: Tropical Mocktails
- Whatever Pops: Gourmet Ice Pops
Craft Vendors
- Akua Fashions
- Artysta Lulu
- Bliss Wellness Market
- Coolcrew
- The Crone's Cupboard
- Elite Rewards
- Hoola Monsters
- Hummingbird 143
- Migdalia
- Peace, Love, Halos
- Recycled Tunes
- Then, Now, Always
Gasparilla Music Festival Parking
This year's Gasparilla Music Fest is at Meridian Fields. With a new location comes a new hunt for places to park without all kinds of walking! These locations are pay-to-park, and payments can be made through ParkMobile or the on-site parking kiosks.
Here are some parking garages close by:
- Fort Brooke Garage: 107 N. Franklin Street (Ample parking, just blocks from the festival)
- Poe Parking Garage: Corner of Ashley Drive & Cass Street (Closest to Curtis Hixon Park)
- Madison Lot: Corner of Florida Ave & Twiggs Street
- Kennedy Lot: Corner of Kennedy Blvd & Marion Street
- Park Tower Garage: Corner of Kennedy Blvd & Tampa St
Festival-goers can also take TECO Streetcar for FREE, or hop on the Pirate Water Taxi for a fee. The TECO Streetcar begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday and goes until 1:30 a.m. Sunday hours are 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where to Enter Gasparilla Music Fest
Finding the festival entrances can be a bit chaotic in the moment when you're trying to quickly navigate and not miss any performances!
There are two entrances to Gasparilla Music Fest, Gate 1 and Gate 2, off of Walton Street.
Gasparilla Music Festival Tickets
GMF takes place April 10-12, 2026, and last minute tickets are still on sale! You can purchase GMF merchandise here.
Here are a few specifics regarding tickets:
- Re-entry is allowed once you received your wristband.
- Wristbands are required to be worn at all times.
- Ticket and entry are voided if wristband is removed.
- Rain or Shine.
- No Refunds.
- All artists and times subject to change or cancellation.
Produced by the non-profit Gasparilla Music Foundation, GMF proceeds support music education in Bay Area schools.
Visiting from Out of Town?
Keep this page bookmarked for any hotel deals as they are announced. In years past, guests coming from out of town were able to book a room at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street for a special festival room rate.
Other nearby hotels include:
- Tampa Marriott Water Street
- JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
- Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown
- The Westin Tampa Waterside
- Le Meridien Tampa
- The Floridan Palace Hotel
- The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
- Aloft Tampa Downtown
- Hilton Tampa Downtown